This 2014 Handmade Chardonnay comes from the Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA,
which is one of the premier AVA’s for Chardonnay in California. Elegantly layered aromas of tropical fruit
and honeysuckle seamlessly meld together with white flower and vanilla bean. Bright flavors of pineapple
and guava overlay the distinctively rich honeydew melon on the forefront. The finish is smooth and long
with lingering flavors of butterscotch and toasted coconut.

Rancho Sta. Rosa is located in the Sta. Rita Hills region of Santa Barbara County. Climbing from 500 to 1,000 feet
above sea level, this hilly site is treated as a series of individual micro-vineyards delineated by soil, exposure,
elevation, grade, rootstock and clones. The well-draining soils and cool maritime climate make this a perfect spot
for Chardonnay. Produced by guest winemaker Lorna Kreutz, this wine shows the clarity and structure typical of its
cool climate origins. After harvest, the grapes were whole-cluster pressed and transferred to tank where they were
fermented with native yeast and then racked to French oak barrels. After 18 months in barrel (100% new) with
regular lees stirring, the wine was bottled.

Vineyard Notes

The 2014 vintage was another solid year in the Sta. Rita Hills. It was the third consecutive abundant vintage with
high quality fruit and large yields. As the earliest bud break on record in the region and with such a warm growing
season, this was also the earliest harvest to date. Conditions remained ideal from bloom to set only minimally
burdened by the typical afternoon winds that sweep through Sta. Rita Hills.